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"This world is glorious! and love its keynote." 







WOMAN'S SOUL. 





SONNETS, ODES and SONGS 



BY 



WlLHELM BeNIGNUS, 



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COPYRIGHT. 1913. WASHINGTON. D.C 
By WILHELM BENIGNUS. 



Printed by 

MAX SCHMETTERLING. 

344 Bowery, New York City. 

The fine plales for 24 of the illustrations were made by the F. A. RINGLER CO., 
26-28 Park Place and 2|-.23 Barclay Street. New York City. 

The plate* for pages I, 36. 38. 42, 44. 48 were made by WM. A. MAC LAUGHUN 
in Allanlic City, N. J. 



A343782 



WOMAN'S Soul 



POEMS 



DEDICATED TO 




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"Gentle she is, but strong in affection, 
and for the right she fights with might.' 







WILHELM BENIGNUS, 

Author of "Dichtungen", "Weltstromlieder", "Stimmen der 

Wasser", "Freiheitshelden", "In alle Ewigkeit", "Allvaters 

Kind", "Frauenseelen", "Lieder eines Pilgers" and 

"Woman's Soul". 



"To touch the depths of the heart, 
to lend to the spirit wings 
with a song that soars and sings — 
ah, this is ait I" 



<..»..»■■». 



DEDICATED 



as a whole 



to 



American Women 

and in particular 
to 

THE SOULS 

beautiful and noble, lovely and admirable, 

whose praises and virtues 

my star-jewelled lyre of heart gold 

sounds jubilantly ** 

in this book. 




»~«..«..»..»M»ra»M^ 




■ •••~« •••••••••••■.•..•..•»• 




PRELUDE. 




••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 



••••••••••••••••• 



I. SONNETS. 




FAIRY FLOWERS 




Prelude. 




PON a fairy garden smiles the sun, 

where charming souls as flowers nod and beam 
in splendours like a paradisal dream, 
where silver brooks thru emerald meadows run. 

The purest joys from these sweet souls 1 won. 
But as they all to me so lovely seem, 
all sparkling in my admiration's gleam» 
how could I give the preference to one? 



How could I crown the lily, when the rose 
deserves the prize as w^ell? How not inclose 
the violet in my song, on praises bent? 

I love them all. I drink their beauty in. 
And if thereby my sounding lyre can w^in 
their dear approval, 1 am well content. 






THE AMERICAN WOMAN. 

"Gentle she is, but strong in affection, 
and for the right she fights with might." 



T 



HE road to Light and Happiness you seek,- 
away from darkness, ignorance and wrong 
of cruel, crushing tyranny, so long 
the portion of all women humble, meek. 

You are rewarded! You are no more weak, 
for all the rights that men have, now belong 
to you in full. Thru freedom's spirit strong 
you win success and climb the highest peak. 

And men, in truth, by no means badly fare 

if you with zeal and vigor take a hand 

in governing this land by women's votes. 

Injustice, beaten, flees and no more gloats. 
You rule so wisely, with a magic wand, 
so womanly, with loving heart and care. 



<^c>xxr^ 



Morning Call. 

1 OU studied well the characters of men, 
you "gauged" them, too, not only "by the way", 
but I believe there are some men that may 
pass review honorably before your pen. 

We must indeed condemn the ingrates, when 
thoy do behave like brutes and cannot stay 
their ugly tempers, when they want to play 
the growling bear. Myself, I kick them then. 

They are to blame when women lose their looks. 
They just want wives to serve them and be cooks, 
consideration seems to them unknown. 

Meek woman has a long time been a slave. 
Up in revolt now rise all women brave, 
all o'er the world their war device is shown: 
"Stand fast, ye suffragettes!" 




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••••••••••••••-•"•••••••••••••• I 




This world is glorious! 
and love its keynote." 



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11 




I HIS world is glorious! and love, not hate, 
its keynote. But the jewel of which I sing, 
a shimmering pearl, yea, a most priceless thing, 
your soul is, Blanche, so kind, compassionate. 



Fair Poetess, the silver stars we see, 
the fluttering moonbeams w^ith, an argent glow^, 
the breaking surf waves with a bright rainbow 
give greetings by the murmuring sea to thee. 



When from the woodland depths with songs of May, 
accompanied by birds and all things gay, 
Spring offers you primroses, violets — flowers; 



when merry robms sing and blossom showers 
from branches snow, caressing cheeks and hands, 
then Earth looks like a dream from wonderlands. 




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FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE. 



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13 



FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE. 

V>/F noble women known to me I praise 
you, Florence, with a rushing sound of chords, 
and with my hymn cherubical I raise 
loud echoes which, approving, God retorts. 

For you stood unafraid and face to face 

*gainst bloody horrors midst grim War's cohorts, 

an angel of great mercy to the race 

of humans, with a service like the Lord's. 

world, awake! Let wars of nations cease! 
And **Cain and Abel" no more be your play! 
Enough of blood, of murderous, foolish fray! 

1 hear her sing, the nightingale of Peace! 

The sounds float by so mellow, yet so strong — 
like the cadenza of a seraph's song. 





1S39— 1911 



Photo taken 1S7. 




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BELLA. 



A soul-tune 

to the memory of the fair lady 

."hose favorite music was Robert Schumann's "Traumerei . 



W AVES, purling from the God of Music's lyre, 
enchanted you. A butterfly, you flew 
from flow'r to flow'r in young days, when the dew 
on petals gleamed, sweet honey your desire. 

But now^ J'^our heart's flame burns with tranquil fire, 
and like a meadow pond wherein the blue 
still sky and willows mirror themselves new, 
your thoughts are turning to the past, entire. 

Around these waters grow dream's fragrant flow'rs 
adorned with drops from fountains' pearly show'rs, 
each drop a glistening, clear and holy tear. 

And thru the "Traeumerei" of flowers fine 
floats full and high a melody divine 
like angel voices from a happier sphere. 




.«»«-»..«.^..>..,..a..y 





JENNY LIND. 

1820—1887 




JENNY LIND. 

j\IND Nature gave to you, o songstress dear, 

the throat of thrush, the voice of nightingale 

which goldenly, in perfect tones and clear, 

rings with most soulful sounds thru wood and vale. 

America still tells of you this tale: 
When in old Castle Garden men did hear 
you, glorious songbird from far Sweden's dale, 
you touched all hearts, drew many a sacred tear. 

That time New York half forest w^as and fen, 
when thru the "Garden" waves of music rolled 
and swelled and flowed victoriously along. 

Remembered are you yet by hale, old men, 
and when they speak of you they say that gold 
your heart was too, — not only gold your song. 




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10 — 



JULIA. 

W ELL have you done, o Julia, your part, 
for, sacrificing much in your best years, 
when life most bright, desirable appears, 
you did your duty whole, with all your heart. 

Your duty to your parents, till the dart 
of the destroyer struck them and your tears 
flowed hotly from the woe that wounds and sears, 
till time with, soothing balsam heals the smart! 

Such filial love I seldom saw before, 
such uncomplaining serving all the while, 
such tender nursing and such bearing brave. 

Before God's throne, where victors' banners wave, 
high deeds recorded are, love without guile, 
but of a truer love there is no lore. 




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VIOLET. 




21 



VIOLET. 

\J SWEET and modest violets, you grow 
in woodland places, under hedges where 
cool shadows linger and fresh brooklets flow 
and busy is a nestling lovebird pair. 

High o'er the green and shimmering world below 
v/hite cloudlets sail in blue, transparent air, 
and whispering zephyrs gather from your row 
spring fragrances for fairies, violets fair. 

A pair of ardent lovers passes by, 

when gay the maid espies you and steps nigh 

and joyfully exclaims: "How sweet they are!" 

The lover smiles and plucks for her a few. 
"Darling," — he fondles — , "what you say is true, 
but you are sweeter, Violet, by far." 



M M 



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NELLIE. 

Vivacious Nellie, when old winter makes 
his exit and young Spring with vernal goods 
moves in victorious, then your joy is such 
that blossoms sprout and birds sing in delight. 

Your eyes are of the liquid brown of lakes 

that sparkle in New Jersey's cedar woods, 

and your dear husband, who admires them much, 

therein his image finds full glorified. 

With Mildred mild, — a lily in your care — , 
you w^ait for him w^ith love profound and rare 
when home from work he comes at end of day. 

You greet him like the sun's glad beam in May 
with w^arm embrace of welcome and a kiss — 
to live like this on earth is heavenly bliss. 



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F A N N i E. 



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FANNIE. 

J\ SPRIGHTLY fairy from the woods' realms, 
with words that from your heart's pure well did rise, 
so walked you once quite near at me at the sea, 
where on the "Boardwalk " streamed the Easter throng. 

Like sunlight w^hich enlivens, yet becalms, 
danced golden lights in your brown topaz eyes. 
Your lips tw^o cherries. When you spoke to me 
I seemed to hear a spring bird's tw^ittering song. 

You dwell in heavens, w^here soft music flows 
w^hen you, with deft art, play the violin, 
enrapture people, hold them in a trance. 

Your soulful, charming music does enhance 
your sweetness with a skybright rainbow sheen 
and draws to you my heart in friendship close. 




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GAZELLA AND ELLY. 

JjLISS reigns in June short as a dream, soon gone, 

when under rose bowers happy lovers walk, 
while birds carol, of sweetest secrets talk — 
but I lived here in solitude, alone. 

Then entered you my house — a joyous pair 
of summer fairies which a perfumed breeze 
brought from the strand of far Hesperides 
where flowers Elysian scent the balmy air. 

Your presence glad transformed the place to me 

into a villa by some southward sea 

with flow^er gardens, fountains, peristyles. 

When now^ I see in June on gauzy wings 
gay butterflies, my dream on wanderings 
finds you, dear friends, on yon far, smiling isles. 

AtlanlicCity, N. J„ June the 16th, 1912. 




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"She walks, a wood - n > r-.pr. 
with her souls choice arrr. ; r. :-. r: 



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20 




i RESH like a rose in morn, a dear surprise 

is Phyllis. E'en the Muses radiate 

no sweeter charms the heart to satiate 

than she who, fair and young, with them in graces vies. 

Hark! Hark! glad larks soar up to heaven's gate 

and sing their hj'^mn of praise the while they rise. 

The Marybuds all ope' their golden eyes 

and every flow'r around greets friend and meadow mate. 

She dreams: she owns in Paradise a hut, 

and in green woods on glade with sunlight warm 

she walks, a w^ood nymph, with her soul's choice arm in arm. 

"My dew-fresh rose, my blue forget-me-not, 
my jewel, my joy! I love you, dear Phyllis!" 
her lover says and seals her red lips with a kiss. 

"Waterbury, Conn., August 3, 1912. 



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EMMY. 

Y OU think of olden times in leisure hours 
when wild and free you roamed thru vale and wood. 
The language of the birds you understood, 
of brooks, of winds rustling thru leafy bow'rs. 

Such memories select are spirit food, 
in life's drear desert is their manna ours. 
A green oasis, bright with palms and flow'rs, 
they put the soul again in happier mood. 

True consolation e'er is Music's art 

to you, when longings seize the restless heart. 

On wings of sound comes Peace then, God's white dove. 

You gather strength and courage from the past. 
A mother, brothers, sisters and, not last, 
husband and children bear you precious love. 




••■•••■••••••••' 




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S A H A R E T. 



From photograph by Georg Gerlach & Co.. Berlin, Geimany. 




•-•-•••••••-••^•••-•- 



CLARISSA— MADAME SAHARET, 
"Queen of Dancers". 



A 



BREEZE from far celestial regions brought 
you down to us, the Earth Star to adorn 
with beauty, radiant as the roseate morn, 
and with your art, so natural, unsought. 

Your dance, Terpsichore: a divine thought 
embodied, and of all that's sensual shorn, 
soon whirls with strength of hurricane, inborn, 
soon floats like dow^n by gentle breezes caught. 

You are embodied Beauty, Passion, Charm, 
Grace, Loveliness — all are in you combined; 
high soul, proud spirit are of you a part. 

I offer you a red rose, colour-warm, 

ideal dancer, soulful and refined. 

I give to you the laurel due your art. 






\ 





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— 35 — 

ILKA. 
p Song. p 

I RUE love flows deep as a river flows. 

But "love" means many a thing! 
It can be compared to a floating rose 
which the waves to the deep sea swing. 

Love leads you sometimes to sunlit skies 
where in glory redeemed souls dwell; 

it brings you to regions where painwrung cries 
of lost souls ring thru hell. 

The dewdrop trembles, a sparkling gem, 

in the purple flower's chalice, 
and a sunbeam, which from heaven came, 

drinks it hotly, — that's love! — with a kiss. 

But the love that alone will a long while last 

I compare to a crystal lake 
w^herein purest pearls of a happy past 

their rest at the bottom take. 

And a shiminer deep dow^n from its golden sands 

meets fondly the soft moonbeams, 
while with lilies white in their spirit hands 

on the shore walk our wishes and dreams. 

And their eyes are turned with a sudden start 

to the treasures there, hidden long, 
and they sing with sighs that could break your heart 

of lost love a sad, sad song. 



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DANTE 

and 

BEATRICE. 

i^N wings of thought did Dante's fancy fly; 
so wildly pulsed his heart that with his hand 
he tried to ease its too tumultuous beat 
when Beatrice, imperious, passed by. 

His destiny she was and from on high 
the magnet drawing him to God's own land 
where happy spirits, saints and angels meet 
and w^here the mansions of the Master lie. 

Her spirit ordered Virgil, brave and w^ise, 
to lead him w^here infernal regions bear 
torments as fruits and pains and sufferings dire. 

Thru heavens nine to God's far Paradise 

she helped and led, a gentle guide and dear, 

her poet lover, him of strong desire. 








DR I 






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THE YELLOW ROSE and THE WHITE ROSE. 

A SOUL-TUNE 

to Dante Alighieri's 'Paradise". 

1 HE Yellow Rose delicious odors brings 
to Him, the Light, and folks in garments white 
on widespread leaves assemble. Truth and Right 
reign here supreme in plenitude of things. 

The soldiery of saints on golden wings, 

their bodies white as snow, their faces bright 

as living flames, like swarm of bees in flight 

around the great White Love-Rose wheels and swings. 

Some fly like troops of doves in circles wide, 
then on the flower's benches they alight, 
dispensing of the peace, and fan their flanks. 

While "Holy! Holy! Holy!" ring their thanks, 
in harmony their glad Hosannas rise, 
chimes in the chant the whole of Paradise. 





DANTE ALIGHIERL 



41 




Dante Alighieri. 




HE SANG OF DEEPEST HELL AND HIGHEST HEAVEN. 




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FRANCESCO PETRARCA 

and 

LAURA DE SADE. 

J^HE prayed, — amongst the Lord's vast retinue 
of saints, Maria, sinless — , when you came 
and saw her humbly kneeling at the shrine. 
Her sight your soul w^ith bliss there did imbue. 

With eyes like clear blue skies she looked at you, 
enkindling in your heart the holy flame 
w^hich in your songs, enamoured, e'er does shine — 
the flame of your pure love, so strong and true. 

Your lyre her praises sounded and you sang 
of Laura's voice, so angelic and mild, 
and of her sunny, golden hair's halo. 

And since the time your songs of Laura rang 

and deified her beauty undefiled, 

they sound from pole to pole in soft echo. 




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MONA LISA— LA GIOCONDA. 

W ITH brilliant skill, of which but masters can 
rightfully boast, Da Vinci fixed in eyes 
and curves of lips the mystic smile which span 
gold threads of love from Earth to Paradise. 

In hours of restless thoughts that made him w^an 
he toiled and tried and mixed the mellow^ dyes, 
until his canvas showed a mate of man 
w^ith w^hich, as riddle, not another vies. 

What strange and wondrous secrets hides this smile, 

w^hat heavenly beatitudes and pleasures, 

what heights and depths to which its lure may lead? 

It hides a world! — mount, river, flowery mead, 
the limpid sky, the ocean with its treasures, 
this sunny smile, bewitching, free of guile. 




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"The mother's blessing still 
suards like God's hand." 






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HELEN. 
Motherhood. 



No hoi 



lier gift than that of motherhood, 
her Heart's Desire, so natural, so deep, 
the vision of her dream in sweetest sleep, 
can God give to a woman pure and good. 

May she the child, the offspring of her blood, 
always on paths of right endeavor keep, 
and may the hands of helping spirits sweep 
out of the way temptations, h-ard withstood. 

The mother leads thru childhood's fairyland 
as guardian angel w^ise, as teacher mild, 
but to the world belongs the child at last — 

her sacrifice. Yet in the tumult wild 

of life's strong stream, in struggles fierce and fast, 

the mother's blessing still guards like God's hand! 





1 I 



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.•..«.. •.>•..! 



•••••••••••••••' 




SIXTINE MADONNA. 




4<J 



MARY, MOTHER OF CHRIST. 

O HOLY Mother of our Saviour, Christ, 
transfigured Mary, dare I sing to thee 
with my soul's lyre, and with my minstrelsy 
dare I add glory, of my heart apprized? 

I hardly dare. But still I praise thee, mild 
and patient mother, true, as mothers are, 
for thou, the crowned queen of them, by far, 
bore Him, the Son of God, the heavenly child. 

And to the race that gave us Moses bold, 
then Christ, to lead the ranks of spirits free, 
I sound a tune of praise with vibrant strings, — 

for thou sprangst from this race. In triumph rings 

thy blessed name thru all eternity, 

by angels praised in chorus thousandfold. 




"His words evolve, His sentences ring true." 



— 51 



COLUMBIA AND HER MISSION. 

i^OLUMBIA, proud mother of great sons, 

who nations from old prejudices frees, 

red, white and blue your star flag waves, unfurled, 

the flag that led in breaking slavery's bars, — 

proud mother, free men kiss your garment's hem. 

In brightness shines our hero's, Washington's, 
untarnished name. A rock in stormy seas 
our Lincoln towers, held against the world. 
In their train follow many lesser stars. 
You bore these giants! Give us more of them\ 

Great mother, may you work unequaled do 
in practising Christ's lessons. He was first 
amongst all men with deeds unselfish, kind. 

His words evolve, His sentences ring true 
and radiate empyrean love, quench thirst 
of parched souls, and peace all men let find. 








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^••-••••••••••••••••.•t 



A TRIBUTE TO ABRAHAM LINCOLN, MASTER-MAN. 
An Appeal to his Spirit. 

Lincoln, to thee, from whose heart flowed a stream of kindness, 

pure and good, 
to thee this mighty nation's pulse beats true, as to her dearest son 

in gratitude for gift of Freedom won; 
in sadness to the martyr, who for her has shed his noble blood. 

Rejoicing people praised thee, who by them as wise, strong father 
stood; 

who fought for Right and, noble Knight!, raised bright-eyed Justice 
to the throne; 
who deemed it high reward that Wrong was gone, 

that equal rights both blacks and whites enjoyed in happy brother- 
hood. 

O Master-Spirit, come again! O pity thou the White Slaves* plight! 
Come, conquer with thy light the pow^ers of night! 

The idol Mammon overturn 
before whose shrine the world, bowed down, doth blindly incense 
burn. 

Rise, Hero-Soul! In anger swing thy keen-edged sword! Dethrone^ 

destroy 
Falsehood and Baseness, joined in vile alloy! 

Stifle the Hydra's poisonous breath! 
The Monsters slay which deal to men a painful, lingering death! 




II. ODES. 



THE POET. 

/\S if the whirlwind of the Night profound, 

out of the immemorable' Before, 

in traverse on illimitable ways, 

hurtling thru spaces unfathomable, 

had found an outlet to the glorious light 

of a morn-day of rose, and had, long wail 

and shriek of battle hushed by the fair sight 

of splendid prospects, come to sudden stop, 

sitting reflecting — thus he doth repose 

upon a wind-swept, cloud-thronged mountain peak, 

with poise of power, a "Giant of the Thought". 

The storms, the turmoils of the thunder clouds 

abate around him. Curling, rolling mists, 

ebbing and wafting in fantastic shapes 

of spirit armies, flow and wave along, 

and, pierced by fiery arrows of the sun, 

cleave in great rifts, dissolve and vanish. Thus, 

a w^restler in his inner consciousness, 

he strives toward the white light of the Dawn. 



As from the jutting buttress of the rocks 

to regions cool and pure of the high sky, 

in cHmbing spirals a wild eagle mounts, 

with outstretched pinions soaring — thus his thought 

soars high, surveys the Earth which races on 

thru leagues of space, a love-drawn, sun-wed orb 

of seed immortal, tho of mortal make. 

Sun radiance gladdens, glorifies her face 

in rosy motherhood's halo of Love. 

Vast is the time before her. Steadily 
her children set their faces to the light 
of a bright, happy future. Thru all trials 
and sorrow^s of their lives, governed by laws 
eternal, they march on to their far goal, 
their mission noble, high their destiny. 

Thus, brooding, he creates with active mind, 
shaping the grand perceptions of his soul, 
around his shape the Spirit's bright halo. 
He dreams a mighty dream, an Earth divine, 
a new and happier star. His listening soul 
hears the mute Silence speak, and the Unknown 
takes voice in music, God-born Harmony, 
singing to him a song of Love and Life, 
of Love eternal, of undying Life, 
of heavenly Joy, of Beauty pure and bright, 
of Truth resplendent, and of God's clear Light. 




— 5(1 



„METROPOLA", 
The Gem of the Two Americas. 



A Dream of the Future Ideal City at the Panama Canal. 



"The American Xation, under God, shall "Gentlemen: Let us remember that our 

have a new birth of freedom, and the interest is in concord, not in conflict, and 

government of the people, by the people, that our real eminence rests in the vic- 

for the people, shall hot perish from the tories of peace, not in those of war." 

earth." — Abraham Lincoln. — William McKinley. 



|_N centuries, far off, I see a city rise • 

as fair as dreams are, coming from Paradise. 

O, golden city, are you a vision mere 

where mist-veils, lifting, vanish in luminous air? 

Fair City, are you a dream from a star-far sphere, 

a glorious dream of Love and of beauty rare? 

Or is your corner-stone in this earth-ground laid, 

and are your bells' great tunes of this earth-sound mate? 

List to the chimes! The bells are ringing! 
Ringing, singing! 
Floating, winging 
past the high church spires 
mount the full choirs, 
ever onswelling, 
ever onwelling, 
circling, spreading 
in sound waves wide 
as an ocean tide of the air seas. 



strong-tuned, a heavenly symphony, 
continents joining in harmony: 

Clasp hands, ye Oceans! 
Shake hands, ye Nations! 
Rest, rest, ye wars! 

Be ye pacified, ye wild passions! 
For men, at last, now live in peace! 



Pilots, free to the harbor of peace guide your stately ships; 

your course leads to the great assembly 
in the port of the great one, the fair one, the sunny one 

of the wondrous clime of the Land of the Free! 
Find your heaven here, ye tired wanderers, soulthirsty roamers of 
beautiful Earth! 

Rejoice, peoples! Ye are the rulers! 
Ye live in palaces climbing the mountain slopes, 
in the free, pure, invigorating, balsamic life air; 

wholesome waters spout clear from the breasts of the high mountains, 
like crystal veins changed into liquid life; 

broad are the streets, roomy the houses, clean and w^ell-lighted, 
spacious the parks with their greenswards and giant shade trees; 
the fountains splash unceasingly in pearly showers, refreshing the sun- 
warm vale; 
the rapture fragrance of flow^ers, borne along on the cool wind's breath, 

floats o'er the City, bathed in sunlight. 



How ye have changed, ye peoples! And changed for the 

better! 
It was a long fight up-hill, but ye have conquered! 
The cold stare of selfishness, the chilling glance of heartlessness, 
the imploring, fainting look of appeal in the eyes of the hungry and 

suffering and sick, 
you meet them no more, O feeling observers. 
The voice of loathsome crime and luring vice is silent, dead. 
The monster Greed no more throws its dark shadows o'er the hearts; 



the foul breath of the dragon Corruption no more poisons and withers 
the Hves of the poor, 
for poor there are none: 
vulgarity, coarseness, brutaUty, have changed to poHteness and good 
manners. 

The municipality has gained the long-sought rights; 

the laws are respected, for they are just; 

the greed of the corporations is checked. 
In this commercial centre of the highways of trade, 
in this collective centre of arts and sciences 
the best and the greatest, and the wisest and the fairest of the world 

meet and hold council 
and commune with their kind and their "Brethren of the Light" of 
other worlds. 

They have conquered the air. these great peoples! 

The sun is their servant, the sea their treasurer, the earth their nourisher. 

Joy is in the looks of all; a glad greeting gives each to his neighbors; 

the wandering stranger is a welcome guest in their gates; 

they rejoice and are happy, for they have learned to overcome the 

ills of the flesh; 
for they have learned to think! They have acquired knowledge! 
They are just, they are true, they are honest, they are kind, they are 

wise and learned. 
for education has become a watch word with them, 
and science goes with religion hand in hand in their city. 



In robes of queenly purple, gold-embroidered, the City strides, 
she, the beautiful one. the proud one, the good one; 

her clean limbs are lithsome, strong; 
her cheeks are rosy with healthful colors, 
like the blushing cheeks of a fair maid 
kissed by the keen morning wind of a late winter day; 
the brightness of her eyes flashes the wise intelligence of her spirit 
she rules the world and the world is proud of her, 
proud of her beauty and wisdom and kindness, 

for her heart's desire is: 

The Welfare of Humanity. 



59 



An evening of gold has set, 
and the flush of the crimson sky, dying in a short-lasting night, 
was but the announcement of a more glorious day, a new day. 

This day has come! The Sun is rising! 
In festive garments the peoples are clad, 
and to the sweet sounds of musical instruments 
they sing songs of praise and of glory, 
of thanks and of rejoicing, 
for the sun is rising! 
The golden morning of "Love" is here, 
and the.roseate dawn arises of "Brotherhood"! 
The lustre of the rising orb bathes you in glory, 
"Metropola"! 
The Sun is rising! 
The rosewings of the dawn expand! 
A brilliance sprung from the life light brightens the heavens 
like a glad smile of angelic hosts 
and brings joy to the hearts! 
Its creative, healing flood of goodness permeates and caresses the 
Earth ! 
The human race grows more god-like! 
In this pellucid splendor of rose and purple, of gold and silver lights 
enveloping the Earth in transfiguration, 
scintillates, glitters 
like a priceless adornment 

the fair one, the supreme one, 

"Metropola"! 
Like the sun of the morning 
you shine and beam and flash and radiate, 
Gem of the Golden West, 
Gem of the two Americas: 
"Metropola"! 




— 60 



III. SONGS. 




A Warble to a Lyre-Tune- 




If three wishes were given to me 

these three wishes they would be: 

To be like the clouds in the sky above 

and bless the world with a rain of love ; 

to flow like a glad free river 

thru life and be a. giver; 

where in earth's deserts poor pilgrims suffer 

cool, refreshing water to offer 

till strengthened, revived, with new hope in the soul 

in safety they reach their journey's goal. 



Gl — 



SONG OF SPRING. 

W HEN the young Spring's breeze begins to sing, 
silver bells with sweetest love notes ring, 
when the robin whistles from the tree, 
then does Life awake and shout w^ith glee. 

Golden wings it spreads and flies away 
into worlds of wonders beckoning gay, 
into sunshine-countries, happy, free. 
O glad Life, I shall your comrade be. 



SONG OF JUNE. 



IN mild June's soft hush 
splendid roses blush 

and their fine perfumes fill all the air. 
Joy and happiness 
brings the air's caress, 

and the w^orld around seems w^ondrous fair. 



Smiling tenderly 
my love offers me 

roses, children of the summer sun. 
Robbing kiss on kiss 
this is real bliss, 

and two hearts beat close and glad as one. 






American Wood Thrushes 
or Bellbirds. 




G8 



SONG of the AMERICAN WOOD THRUSH or BELLBIRD. 



Song- of the Bellbird. 
'•A-e-o! 
A-e-o-lee! 
A-e-o-lee-ee!" 



Evening Song on the Hudson. 

I HE bellbird's song above the woodland dell 
rings out with sounds of sonorous, golden bell, 
so sweet, that life's loud turmoil they abate 
and chase away unholy strife and hate. 

The soul the sunset's glorious wonders drinks, 

and dove-winged Peace with benediction sinks 

to earth down softly, brings this gift, the best: 

Night's strength' ning sleep and dreamless, blessed rest. 




(14 



SONG OF AUTUMN. 

I ONE are all the sunny hours, 

all the happy summer days, 
when the roses bloomed in bowers 

and the birds sang roundelays. 
Summer went on fleeting wings 
and the bluebird sings: 

"Far away, far away!" 

Princely dress the forests show; 

apples glow in gold and red; 
grapes in bunches hang now low; 

squirrel makes its winterbed, 
for the winds soon blow with main, 
bitter winds with frost and rain — 
Summer went far away! 



SONG OF GOOD-BYE. 



I^T has to be "Good-bye" today, 

I go aw^ay from here, 
but where I go and where I roam, 

I think of you, my dear. 
The honeysuckles smell so sw^eet 

where on the porch you stand 
and call "Good-bye!" the last, last time 

and beckon with your hand. 



It was a happy, glorious time 

there by the shining sea, 
a blissful time that flew as quick 

as summer cloudlets flee. 
"Good-bye, O Sea! Good-bye, my love!' 

1 can not longer stay. 
But where I go and where I roam, 

I think of you for aye. 



THE SONG OF THE BEAUTIFUL WORLD. 

oO many a time I hear that wrong 

the world is roundabout. 
But yet I like her! With my song 

I praise her beauty loud. 
The honeysuckles smell so sweet, 

the roses bloom so fair, 
and if their thorns do hurt my hand 

1 smile and do not care. 

The lightning smites this world sometimes, 

hail strikes it rather hard, 
I smile then, think it must be so, 

I play as man my part. 
The sun greets woods and fields again, 

the sky regains its blue, 
and I rejoice with warbling birds: 

O world, how fair are you! 




■••«•••••-•"••• 



'•••••"•"•••••■•••»•■ 




ADDENDA 



Note.— The iuldendii to Dante and Beatrice. Francesco I'etrarca and Laura 
de Sade, Florence Nightingale and Jenny Lind are in the main i)art extracts 
from the "Encyclopaedia Britannica". 



Louise K. M. — Suggested by meeting Mrs. Louise Kobbe Man- 
ning, of New York, in company with, Mrs. Wagstaff on the Board- 
walk in Atlantic City, N. J., March 9th, 1912, and by her editorial 
"Morning Call" in the "Reading Times" of March 13th, 1912. 

Blanche. — Suggested by "Atys. A Grecian Idyl and Other 
Poems", by Mrs. Blanche Shoemaker Wagstaff, of New York, when 
I made her acquaintance in front of Hirshberg's "Swinburne Book- 
store" on the Boardwalk in Atlantic City, N. J., March 9th, 1912. 

Florence Nightingale. — Florence Nightingale (1820-1910), the 
younger daughter of William Edward Nightingale of Embley Park, 
Hampshire, and Lea Hurst, Derbyshire, in England, was born at 
Florence on the 15th of May 1820 and named after this city, but 
her childhood was spent in England, chiefly in Derbyshire. From 
her earliest years she loved nature and animals. She followed the 
call of her heart and interested herself in hospitals, reformatories and 
other charitable institutions. To gain experience and to learn she visited 
foreign hospitals and, desiring to obtain the best possible teaching 
for herself, w^ent thru a course of training in the institute of Prot- 
estant Deaconesses at Kaiserswerth, Germany. There she remained 
six months, learning every detail of hospital management with a 
thoroness rarely equalled, making herself proficient in her self- 
chosen task. In Paris she continued her studies of the system of 
nursing and management in the hospitals under the charge of the 
sisters of St. Vincent de Paul. So she was well prepared. When 
the bloody Crimean war was raging she hastened, 1854, to the scene 
of the struggles in the Crimea and nursed the sick and wounded 
of a large army. There she went thru terrible experiences, but never 
wavered in her sacrificing service. She tended the Balaklava wounded 
at Scutari, which were joined two days later by 600 from Inkerman. 
Soon she had 10,000 men under her charge and the general super- 
intendence of all the hospitals on the Bosporus. 1856 she returned 



— i>S — 

to England where she was showered with honors for her meritorious 
pioneering work. She continued in her chosen Hne of activities and 
died in London on the 13th day of August 1910. the thanks of all 
nations her everlasting spiritual monument. 

Bella. — Mrs. Arabella Wirths, as she was known to me and 
Atlantic City people, was born in Manchester. England, on the 2 I st 
of November 1839. as daughter of Carl Pregel and Julia, nee Ccihn. 
From her 1 2th year she lived w4th her parents in Frankfurt-on-the- 
Main. Germany. Her music-teacher there was Robert Schumann, 
the composer, with his wife Clara. She visited conservatories and, 
ha%'ing genius, soon became an accomplished pianist. She married 
Carl Schoemann. who died, then Moritz Wirths. went with him to 
the United States, left him later on and^ied at last as widow in 
Atlantic City, N. J., from 1900 to 1911. Her favorites were Wag- 
ner and Chopin and her favorite music was Robert Schumann's 
"Traeumerei". She used to visit regularly the concerts at the Steel 
Pier as long as William A. Haley was Orchestra leader. He passed 
into the land of dreams two years ahead of her. for he died in 1909 
in Washington. D. C, w^here he had led the military- orcehstra for 
-many years. In Atlantic City he often followed the good ad^-ices of 
Mrs. Wirths in musical matters and always honored her specially on 
the Steel Pier by playing for her "Traeumerei" in a most soulful and 
accomplished way. Mrs. Wirths died in the night of the 1 7th to 1 8th 
of August 1911. 72 years old. at 5 1 Adriatic Ave., the house where 
she spent the last six years of her life in Atlantic City. She was one 
of the kindest and most genial souls I ever knew and one of the 
best friends I ever had. More particulars about her life I gave in 
the "Begleitwort" in my German book of poems '"Allvaters Kind". 

When 1910 the newspapers announced the death of Florence 
NightingeJe, Mrs. Wirths told me. that, to assist at her birth 1839. the 
great nurse was called from London. She told me further that she 
heard Jenny Lind sing and remembered the time very well. This 
accounts for the arrangement of the poems dedicated to these three 
noble Women. 

Miss Julia Walrath. Mrs. Violet Cappazzo-Newman. who both 
now reside in Philadelphia, and Mrs. Nellie Robinson, of Atlantic 
City, were good friends and neighbors of Mrs. \\ irths in the "Queen 
City by the Sea", acordingly I arranged the poems dedicated to them 
in the order which the book shows. 

The portrait ""Bella"" is from a photograph taken in 1873 in 
Darmstadt. Germany. 

The name Arabella is of Scottish origin and means Hearth 
Heroine. Southey sings: 

"What will not woman, gentle woman dare 
when strong affection stirs her spirit up". 



— (19 — 

Jenny Lind. — Jenny Lind (1820-1887), the famous Swedish 
singer, was born at Stockholm on the 6th of October 1820, the 
daughter of a lace manufacturer. Mile. Landberg, an opera-dancer, 
first discovered her musical gift and took her education in hand. She 
soon was a celebrity and had great successes as a singer in the operatic 
world wherever she played and sang. 1850 she visited America and 
married in Boston, 1852, Otto Goldschmidt, whom she had met in 
Luebeck 1850. She was called the Swedish nightingale. On the 2nd 
day of November 1887 she died at Malvern. 

In the operas she identified herself with the characters she re- 
presented with a thoroness rare in her days. Unharmed by the perils 
of a stage-career, she was a model of rectitude, generosity and straight- 
forwardness, carrying the last quality into a certain blunt directness of 
manner that was sometimes rather startling. 

Fannie. — Suggested by making the acquaintance of Miss Fannie 
Levine, violinist, of New York, strolling on the Boardwalk in Atlantic 
City, N. J., April 7th, 1912. 

Gazella and Elly. — Miss Elly Deckart (21) and Miss Gazella 
Grossman (23) came to Atlantic City on an excursion train from 
Philadelphia on June the 16th, 1912, to enjoy the Sunday afternoon 
by the Atlantic Ocean. As they had read some of my poems and 
some of my books, they honored me by quite an unexpected visit, at 
5 1 Adriatic Avenue; and we had quite a pleasant hour of interesting 
conversation. 1 saw the young ladies then for the first time and was 
glad to find such dear, new friends. Miss Grossman is of Hungarian 
descent. Miss Deckart hails from Leipzig, w^here she studied as teacher 
and then came to America, devoting her time to literary work, but 
intending to return to her beloved native country, Germany. 

Emmy. — During the summer of 1912, I had the honor and the 
pleasure to be the welcome guest of Mr. August and Mrs. Emmy 
Gauthier, in Waterbury, Conn., where, at the time, Miss Phyllis Fill- 
mann, of Birkenfelde a. d. Nahe, the sister of Mrs. Gauthier, was 
present on a longer visit from Germany. The dear children of my 
hosts are Katharine and Inez. 

To me the sojourn in the beautiful "Elm State" is unforgettable, 
for I met there many good people and made there many new friends. 
In Waterbury, the poet Lothar Brunke and the poetess Kate Wood- 
ward Noble and Miss Elizabeth Quinn; in New Haven, the brave, true 
Knights Edward Andersen, Wm. Radon, Hugo Brockelschen, Peter 
Dejon the poet, Leo Herz, Wm. Meister the sculpter and their noble 
"Burgfrauen", the Professors at Yale University", John C. Schwab, 
Arthur H. Palmer, Isidor Troostwyk, Max Dessauer and other fine 
men and women. In Hoboken, N. J., later on, on the N. G. Lloyd 
Steamer "Koenig Albert", I bid farewell to our distinguished Aus- 
tausch-Professor Julius Petersen, who was at "Yale", when he left for 
Europe at 11 A. M., March th« 15th, 1913. 



70 



We are only temporary dwellers on this our beautiful home-star, 
the Earth. It is my belief, that the Earth-star is not our last goal and 
not our highest. And I am of the opinion that, after our earthly race 
is run and our work here is done, the friends we met and had here, 
we shall meet and greet again in other spheres on other stars. "Thru 
changes and evolutions ahead and higher!" is the cosmic law. Surely 
the best part of our life are our friendships. I speak of true and 
proved friends w^ho are above the doubting. 

Clarissa. — Madame Clarissa Rose, whose nom de theatre is 
Saharet, is the "Queen of Dancers" of our time. She was born in 
Melbourne, Australia, in the year of 1 879. Her father, John Campbell, 
comes from the Scottish Highlands; her mother, Eveline de Vere, is 
of French descent. In the daughter are united the best qualities of 
the tw^o nations from which the parents sprang. Saharet is, w^ithout 
a doubt, the most accomplished dancer and, in her ow^n type, the most 
beautiful woman of our time. Not only the external beauty of her 
delights, but also the inner beauty, that of her soul. For her dancing 
is never sensational, but always refined and soulful. 

Being vivacity personified, her dance is enlivened by a fine 
spirit. In dancing, beauty of motion becomes to her a revelation. 
To her Beauty is Life, not cold and motionless beauty, but expressive 
and living beauty, reflecting the gentlest emotions of the soul in all 
their finest, varying tints. In dancing, she is Soul herself. 

Madame Saharet appeared on the stage in all the big European 
cities: London, Paris, Berlin, St. Petersburg, and also in America. 

Franz von Stuck, the great Munich artist, painted her portrait 
in oil. The canvass, know^n in art circles under the name of "The 
saluting Saharet w^ith the red Rose", is now^ in the possession of the 
Chicago art-lover and connoisseur Mr. Fritz von Frantzius, who values 
it as the greatest gem of his collection. 

Fine photographs of Madame Saharet are made and for sale by 
Georg Gerlach & Co., Photographers, Berlin, Germany. 

The two pictures in the book are reproduced from photographs 
by this Co. 

Ilka. — Miss Ilka Lenz, from Berlin, Germany, whose acquain- 
tance I made 1913, in the "Deutsche Lesegesellschaft, New York", in 
"Luechows". The young lady is studying in a New York City High 
School. 

Dante and Beatrice. — Since Dante Alighieri's soul-wave spark- 
led Hke a diamond on the bosom of the sea of life, 647 shining years 
lifted themselves, shone, sank again and vanished into the void of 
the immense from whence they. came. The great poet was born about 
the middle of May, 1265, at Florence, in Italy, under a laurel-tree, 
and the sign of the twins was over him, "the glorious stars pregnant 
with virtue, to whom he owes his genius, such as it is." 

His immortal work is the "Divina Comedia", in two parts, 
"Inferno*' and "Paradise". In virtue of this great poem he holds his 



— 71 — 

place as one of the half-dozen greatest writers of all time. It must be 
admitted his greatness was acknowledged by the world only long years 
after his death. In his poetical w^ork he was inspired by his love, 
Beatrice, who died on the 9th of June 1 290. Her mortal love had 
guided him for thirteen years, and her immortal spirit purified his later 
life and revealed to him the mysteries of Paradise, after first enabling 
him to gain entry and insight into the terrible regions of the Inferno, 
Hell and Purgatory. Dante knew^ Beatrice as a child. He met her 
only twice or thrice in life, the first time in the house of her father 
Folco, on May-day, 12 74, then, in later life, near the bridge of the 
old Italian city. She married not him, but Simone de' Bardi, and she 
probably saw little of Dante. But the worship of her lover was stronger 
for the remoteness of his subject. 

When Beatrice died he so far recovered from the shock of his loss, 
that in 1292, he married Gemma, daughter of Manetto Donati, a 
connection of the celebrated Corso Donati, afterwards Dante's bitter 
foe. It is possible that she is the lady mentioned in the "Vita Nuova", 
as sitting full of pity at her w^indow^ and comforting Dante for his sor- 
row. By this wife he had tv/o sons and daughters and his union w^ith 
her was happy. 

As active politician Dante belonged to the party of the Ghibel- 
lines. His political life was very stormy. He was exiled and wandered 
in his old age. as an exile, from city to city and from place to place 
thruout Lombardy, Tuscany and the Romagna, under the protec- 
tion of various lords. Dante's last years of life were spent at Ravenna, 
under the protection of Guido da Polenta. In Ravenna he died of a 
fever on the 14th of December, 1321. His bones still repose there. 

Besides his "Divina Comedia ", Dante wrote many other poems. 
In his book 'Vita Nuova " is contained the history of his love for 
Beatrice. The v/ork of his manhood is the "Convito" or "Banquet ". 
Besides the smaller poems contained in the "Vita Nuova" and "Con- 
vito ', there are a considerable number of canzoni, ballate and sonnetti 
bearing the poet's name. 

The Yellow Rose and the White Rose. — Canto XXX. Argument 
("The Paradise of Dante", by A. J. Butler; Publishers Mac Millan 6<: 
Co., New York and London) : Dante, with his soul's love, Beatrice, his 
spirit guide and instructor, rises to the highest or Empyrean heaven, 
w^here a great brightness surrounds them. Paradise appears first as 
a river of light; then, as Dante sees more clearly, in the form of a yel- 
low rose, in color like the golden sun. The leaves of this rose are the 
seats of the blessed. 

Canto XXXI. Argument: The company of the saints appears in 
the figure of a white rose, about which the angels fly. 

In Dante's conception of Paradise the universe, consists of nine 
spheres or circles, each a heaven, concentric with the earth which is 
fixed at the centre and surrounded by the different spheres. Nine 
orders of angels are guardians and servants of these realms. 



/ 



Francesco Petrarca and Laura de Sade. — Petrarca or Petrarch 

belongs to the Italian Poets enriphatically distinguished as "11 Quattro 
Poeti Italiani" and whose names are Dante, Ariosto, Tass-o, Petrarca. 
He was born at Arezzo. the 20th of July 1 304 and died in \ enice on 
the 1 8tK' of July. 13 74. He lived in Padua and \ enice. made 
some long travels and retired 1 369 to Arqua. a village 
in the Euganean hills. As a man he was \'irtuous. as a poet noble and 
pure in thought. As an author Petrarca must be considered from two 

points first as a writer of Latin verse and prose, secondly as an 

Italian lyrist. — The Sonnets, Triumphs and Other Poems of Petrarch", 
translated into hngiish verse by various hands and with a life histonr* 
of the Poet by Thomas Campbell, appeared through the Publishers: 
George Bell &; ::?ons. London. 

\^ ith Petrarca. friendship was a passion: or. what is more true 
perhaps, he needed friends for the maintenance of his intellectual ac- 
ti\'it>^ at the highest point of its effectiveness. One of his poet-friends 
was the writer of th-e "Decamerone". Boccacio. 

Petrarca s ideal of humanism was essentially a noble one. He 
regarded the orator and the poet as teachers, bound to complete them- 
selves by education, and to exhibit to the world an image of perfected 
personality- in prose and verse of studied beaut>-. Self-culture and self- 
education seemed to him the highest aims of men. Everv'thing which 
contributed to the formation of a free, impassioned, liberal indi\'idu- 
alit>- he regarded as praiseworthy. Everything which retarded the 
attainment of this end was contemptible in his eyes. The authors of 
antiquity-, the Holy Scriptures and the fathers of the church were val- 
ued by him as one common source of intellectual enlightenment. 
Eminently religious and orthodox in his con\'iction. he did not seek 
to substitute a Pagan for the Christian ideal. This was left for the 
scholars of the 1 3th and 1 6th centuries in Italy. 

Since the death of Petrarca, one of Italy's greatest sons, who as a 
scientist and poet occupies a prominent place in the world s literature. 
more than 600 years have elapsed. But still the masterful sonnets he 
sang to the praise of Laura, his soul's love, echo softly over the 
world. Of Laura, who was married and a mother and whom Petrarca 
met only once in life, the poet says himself: "Laura who. renowned by 
her own virtues, became \%-idely known and celebrated thru my poems, 
appeared before my eyes for the first time in San Clara Church, at 
A\-ignon. on the morning of the 6th of April. 1 32 7." and further, when 
be heard of her death on the 6th of April. 1 348. at A\-ignon: ""On the 
day of her death I was in \'erona and had no presentiment of my fate. 
The sad news was made known to me first by a letter of my friend 
Socrates (this nam.e he gave to his Flemish friend Ludovicus). who 
met me at Parma on the 1 9th of May. The beautiful body of the be- 
loved was buried in the Church of San Francis on the eve of the day of 
her death, but her spirit, according to my firm conviction, returned to 
Heaven, from whence it had come. 



'3 — 



Mona Lisa — La Gioconda. — The canvas of "La Gioconda'" 
was begun by Da Vinci, in Florence, in the year 1501 and finished 
four years later. 

Leonado Da Vinci, the great Italian painter, sculpter, architect, 
musician, mechanician, engineer and natural philosopher, was born in 
Florence, in the year 1452, and died under the protection of Francis 
I., King of France, at the Castle of Cloux, near Amboise, in the year 
•1519. 

Helen. — Suggested by a poem of Mrs. Helen Payne Whitney — 
Hay, of New York, which I read in a New York City Newspaper. 

Sistine Madonna. — The "Sistine Madonna" was painted by 
Raphael, near the end of his life for the Church of San Sixtus (San 
Sisto) at Piacenza and is now in the Royal Gallery at Dresden, Ger- 
many. It represents the Virgin holding the Child and floating in clouds 
composed of cherubs' faces, with St. Sixtus kneeling at her right, St. 
Barbara at her left, and tw^o cherubs below^. 

Raphael Sanzio or Raphael Sanzio d'Urbino, the great Italian 
painter, son of Giovanni Sanzio or Santi, was born on the 6th of April, 
1 483, in the ducal city of Urbino, situated among the Apennines on the 
borders of Tuscany and Umbria. He died after the attacks of a fever 
in Rome on Good Friday, April 6th, 1520. On the firmament of art, 
his fame shines forever as a star of the first magnitude. Many of his 
Madonnas he painted in Florence. His greatest masterpiece is "The 
Transfiguration". He had an incomparable instinct for rythmical de- 
sign, trained on subjects of holy quietude and rapt contemplation ac- 
cording to the traditions of Umbrian art. Frorn Leonardo's example 
"The Batde of the Standard", 1504-1505, he learned to apply the 
same instinct to themes of violent action and strife. 

Mary, Mother of Christ. — The mother of Jesus Christ, Mary, 
as well as his father, Joseph, descended from the Judaic family of 
kings, beginning with David. The father was a carpenter by trade 
and lived in Nazareth, Galilee. Therefore the Saviour, the Captain of 
Men's Salvation, is sometimes called the Nazarene or Galileean. He 
was born in Bethlehem, Galilee, and died on the cross on Golgatha, 
near Jerusalem, 33 years old. With the day of his birth begins the 
Christian era, for Men and Religion a forward movement. Nearly 2000 
years have elapsed since then and still Christ's sentences are the fresh- 
est truths of modern altruism, proving His real greatness and spiritual 
supremacy. Yet the world is very far from the ultimate realization of 
the teachings of Christ who, never thinking about himself, worked, 
lived and died for his principles and for other men and women and 
children, for all men as his brothers, for mankind. 

Moses, the great Hebrew, was born in Heliopolis, in the year 
1 738 before Christ. He lived to be 1 20 years old. Prophet, teacher 
and lawgiver of the Hebrew race and the liberator of his people from 
Egyptian slavery of the Pharaos, he gave to them and to the world the 



— 74 



Ten Commandments or 
mankind's conscience. 



the Decalogue, the foundation stone of 



tT\' 



Columbia. — Columbia is the pet name given to "God s Coun- 

rhe Lnited ^Mates of North America. 



George Washington was bom on the 22nd of Februar>- 1 732. in 
the State or \ irginia and died on the 1 4ih of December 1 799. in Mount 
\ ernon. \ irginia. He was commander in chief of the Ameri- 
can army m the \^ ar of Independence or the \^'ar of Liberation, which 
began July 4th 1 776 and enciec Septem.ber the 3rd 1 733. He was the 
first American president. 

Abraham Lincoln was born on the 1 2th or February- 1 809 in the 
State of Kentucky and died by the bullet of a fanatical assassin in 
Washington. D. C. on the 1 3 th of April I 863. He was president dur- 
ing the Ci\-il \T ar or Revolutionary* \X ar which made an end to slaverv 



in the Lnited States and vrhich lasted 



861 to 1863. 



Of the American Master-Men. or the Titans oi: the Lnion. he is 
tbe foremost and the greatest. In the memory of his people he lives 
forever and ever as the rejoin«r. strengthener and fortifier of a torn 
Union. Only George W ashington. is equal to him in greatness. Lincoln 
is to the Americans what Bismarck is to the Gemians. 





<^4^ 



— 76 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

1. TEXT. 

PAGE 

Title : "Woman's Soul 1 

Dedication & 

I. SONNETS. 

Fairy Flowers. Prelude 'i 

The American Woman 5 

Louise. "Morning Call" 9 

Blanche H 

Florence Nightingale 13 

Bella 15 

Jenny Lind 17 

Julia 19 

Violet . 21 

Nellie 23 

Fannie 25 

Gazella and Elly 27 

Phyllis 29 

Emmy 31 

Saharet 33 

Ilka. (Song) 35 

Dante and Beatrice 37 

The Yellow Rose and the White Kose 39 

Dante Alighieri . .• 41 

Francesca Petrarca and Laura de Sade 43 

Mona Lisa — La Giaconda 45 

Helen. Motherhood 47 

Mary, Mother of Christ 49 

Columbia and her Mission 51 

A Tribute to Abraham Lincoln, Master — Man 53 

TI. ODES. 

The Poet 54 

Metropola 56 

III. SONGS. 

A Warble to a Lyre-Tune 60 

Song of Spring 61 

Song of June f'l 

Song of the American Wood Thrush 63 

Song of Autumn C4 

Song of Good-Bye ^^"^ 

The Song of the Beautiful World ^5 

Addenda ^J^^ 

Book Announcement ' "^ 

2. ILLUSTRATIONS. 

The Star Lady. After painting by Dante Gabriel Rossetti 1 

Portrait of the Author 4 

Prelude. After painting by Seifert ^> 



PA(JE 

Longing S 

"This world is glorious I" After painting by Anselni Fenerbacli 10 

Florence Nightingale 12 

Bella : 14 

Jenny Lincl 16 

Julia 18 

Violet 20 

Nellie 22 

Fannie 24 

Gazella and Elly 26 

She walks, a wood nymph 28 

Emmv 30 

Saharet 32 

Ilka 34 

Meet in q of Dante and Beatrice. After painting by Henry Holiday, Walker 

Art Gallery, Liverpool 36 

Dream-Roses. Saharet .' 38 

Dante Alighieri 40 

Francesco Petrarca and Laura de Sade. After painting by Raphael, engraved 
in copper by Fidanza, in the "Konigiiches Kupferstich-Kabinet", Berlin, 

Germany 42 

Mona Lisa — La Giaconda. After painting by Leonardo da Vinci, which hung 

in the "Louvre", Paris 44 

•'The Mother's Blessing still guards like God's hand" 46 

Sistine Madonna. After painting by Raphael Sanzio d' Urbino in the "Dres- 

dener Gallery", Dresden, Germany 4g 

Temptation of Christ. After painting by Scheffer 50 

Abraham Lincoln 52 

A Warble to a Lyre-Tune 60 

American Wood 21i rushes or BellMrd and nest with eggs. The photograph 
was taken from a group in Mr. Wilhelm Werner's "Wonderland" at the 

Boardwalk in Atlantic City, N, J, Mr. Werner died, 72 years old, at his 
home there. He was the State Taxidermist of New Jersey and a master 
in his art. He finished and arranged his groups in a most natural and 

at the same time poetical way g2 

Dandelion g5 

Dreams of Remembrance (jg 

Signatures. — These signatures, together with the portraits, photographs, 
were graciously presented to me by the fair ladies themselves in their own hand- 
writings, from which I had line-cuts made. The writing "The American Woman", 
is by Mrs. A. Wirths, who wrote it in the year 1911, a few months before she died! 
on an envelope subscribing for the monthly magazine "The American Woman". 



APR 3 !913 



TO AN 




LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

■m 

Vi AIR -70Q AOA n^ 



015 79S 484 



made by the "Clark Harp Mfg. Co.," Syracuse, N. Y., 
and seen by the author in the shop window of Carl Fischer's Music Store, 
Cooper Square, New York City, 
on Saint Patrick's Day, March the 17th, 1913. 

Song by Wilhelm Benignus. 

1 SAW you in the window and felt like taking hold 

of you, clad in transparent green with ornaments of gold; 

I felt as if to fondle your brightly luring strings 

and strike a powerful melody of great and noble things. 

Fd sing of patriots bold and soldiers brave of Erin, 

of pioneers strong and daring all "wearin* of the green*' ; 

I'd sing of elves and fairies that live in Ireland's hills, 

of lakes, like shimm'ring diamonds, of woods with babbling rills. 

I'd sing of good Saint Patrick who chased away the snakes, 
the Saint beloved by Irish hearts wherever Freedom wakes; 
I'd praise the three-leaved shamrock that's worn with happy smile 
by millions of true Irishmen from dear ould Erin's Isle. 

I love your queenly beauty, o Harp of highest art, 
with the strength of loving comradeship and the ardor of a bard, 
for the voice of Wind and Ocean and Your voice they are the same, 
your soul ist thrilling music and your spirit is a flame. 




